RFID & Electromagnetic Pulse

Today many of your credit cards have a small chip called a RFID chip inside of the card. You may or may not be able to clearly see the chip in the card. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and this chip is what allows you to just tap your card up against the card machine at Starbucks instead of swiping it. Sad thing is that thieves can very easy bump up against your wallet or purse with a custom build inexpensive machine and also “get the broadcast” of your card number, expiration date, etc. Here is a news special report that expands on this.

You have two ways you can protect yourself from this risk. First, you can request your bank and credit card provider to not issue you a card with a RFID chip inside. Almost half of debit and credit cards have them today and the number is expected to increase.

Your second option to protect yourself is to purchase a RFID blocking wallet. Often referred to as Faraday wallets (link to Amazon.com), these wallets (along with other Faraday products) block any signals from being sent or received and thus protect your information from this type of “skimming” technique used by thieves. (Faraday Card Sleeve).

Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)You have learned about the concept of EMP from the movies. An advanced type of technology that could be used as a weapon to disable and destroy anything with an electric circuit that is powered on. EMP can also occur naturally through lightning for example.

Faraday cages, bags, and boxes (also named for Michael Faraday like the wallets discussed above) are an entrapment that will protect a laptop, cell phone, or any other electronic device from being hit or effected by a EMP. They also would protect any cyber thieves from being able to access the device wirelessly. These have become popular in government circles and other large corporations where data has to be secure and protected from any sort of cyber attack.

About Jacob Paulsen

Jacob S. Paulsen is the President of ConcealedCarry.com. ConcealedCarry.com provides in-person and online firearm training for American gun owners. The Company is currently teaching in-person classes in 25+ states with a team of more than 55 instructors. Jacob is a NRA certified instructor & Range Safety Officer, USCCA certified instructor and training counselor, Utah BCI instructor, Affiliate instructor for Next Level Training, and a Glock and Sig Sauer Certified Armorer. He resides in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with his wife and children.